Grand Canyon University plans to expand across state

Grand Canyon University plans to expand its campus and compete with other major state universities.

According to the Phoenix Business Journal President and CEO Brian Mueller said he plans to expand to the East Valley and Tucson and go up against Arizona State University and the University of Arizona in the near future.

He plans to decide this summer on which campus to start building first, depending on those cities’ proposals.

The campus would cost about $50 million to support the enrollment base of 4,000-7,000 students.

Mueller said he is interested in expansion to Las Vegas and Albuquerque, N.M., down the road.

“They really want a private Christian university in both those places,” Mueller said. “I don’t know if we will move on those in the short run, but there is a possibility we will be moving on those in the long run.”